a belated Merry Christmas

I think we are finally all recovering from being sick!  The only complaint is that Kent and I still can't taste much so it's no fun to eat anything.  Kent was so excited to go the to  "Happy Rose Buffet" here in Toledo. I hate the place (both chinese food AND buffets are things I try to avoid) but got him a gift certificate for Christmas because I knew he'd love it.

Christmas really was amazing.  So amazing, in fact, that Santa didn't have to spend a single penny on Zeb or Ike because they had so many loving aunts and uncles and grandparents and cousins and a Nannie Annie that gave them plenty of gifts.  After a look at the gifts these kids were getting we decided to put away Santa's gifts for Birthdays coming up.

Ike got a busy ball bopper and some much needed socks and clothes.  Thank-you thank-you thank-you.

 This kid took home the cake and ate it too. Zeb was so excited Christmas morning.  He got the mother load of all things on wheels (thanks aunties!) and a new track (thanks gma pat) to use them on.  He has been playing NONstop ever since. Here he is opening the gift he's been asking for for MONTHS.  Thanks auntie metta, he loves the truck so so much.  Just check out that face.

 Little Hanky got his own track and cars to play with as well.  It was so fun to have these cousins playing together.  I think they could pass as brothers, don't you?  This is a picture of the two of them early the morning after Christmas.  They started playing the second they woke up.

The kids were all so excited about their toys that we decided to get them opened and then divert them all to another room so that we (the adults) could all enjoy opening our presents. There are very very few things in life where I prefer order and calm organization. For whatever reason- Christmas morning is one of them.  It turned out very nicely.   Each of us had an orderly pile of presents and we took turns opening them one by one.  Somehow- Laney ALWAYS gets the biggest pile of presents.

Here is Kent in the aftermath.  His ear still hurt from the night before!

  Is there anything better than a living room full of wrapping paper and boxes after Christmas?  We are definitely blessed people.

 After going through all of my pictures I realized that there are NONE of me. I'm sure Laney has some on her camera- but I was enjoying myself too much taking my pics with mine. I spent half of Christmas taking pictures of people's presents!  Here are some of the new dinos.

I did have my own wonderful pile of presents to open, though. The camera was my "big" gift- but Kent knows how much I enjoy unwrapping things so he wrapped up lots of small presents for me to open.  I got floss (who doesn't love cinnamon and mint floss?!), chocolate, shampoo, dumbbells, and lots of gifts from family.

Thanks again, Laney and Taylor.  It was a blast.  Who wouldn't want to spend time with these two?!